Conor McGregor Claims He's Had Talks With Manny Pacquiao Over Boxing Fight

Conor McGregor returns to the octagon on Saturday night to face Donald Cerrone but the Notorious is already eyeing up a return to boxing in the future, and a potential fight with Manny Pacquiao.

It's been 15 months since McGregor competed in UFC and it's not the first time he's taken a long break from the sport. His most high profile hiatus came between 2016 and 2018 when he took time out to face Floyd Mayweather in a boxing fight.

In an in depth interview with Ariel Helwani, which aired on Monday night, the Irishman revealed he wanted a return to boxing and had held talks with Manny Pacquiao. Speaking about his Mayweather loss he said, "I would be open to other boxing bouts.

"Manny has been, we're actually close, there's been a sitch, we're actually close to signing Manny."There has been talks about the Manny fight. There was an offer made on that."

Helwani asked, "What happened?" McGregor answered "Just not yet. Not yet," with Helwani again probing with, "But it's a possibility?" before the Irishman revealed another target he'd like to face, Paulie Malignaggi, adding, "Very much so. Then the Paulie fight. I'd like to box Paulie as well, why not, that's a bit of buzz as well Paulie, a boxing bout.

"I want to box again, I will box again. I want to get a boxing world title. I would box multiple times. I love boxing, I truly love boxing. And I'm damn good."

The Notorious had also said he wanted a rematch with Mayweather, adding, "I'd like to rematch Floyd. I think we should rematch Floyd. I mean, he's flirting with it...he can go and pick someone else, [but] it's not gonna be the same."

'Money' retired, for a second time, after their 2017 fight but revealed recently that 2020 would be the year of his latest comeback to the sport, and he's teaming up with Dana White.

For now the Irishman needs to concentrate on his fight with 'Cowboy' Cerrone on Saturday night and get back to winning ways after losing his most recent fight, the October 2018 fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

His last win in any fight came in November 2016 and for a man of his talent that is far too long.

Will McGregor return to winning way at UFC 246?